111 I say then , God has not rejected His people , has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite , a descendant of Abraham , of the tribe of Benjamin . 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew . Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah , how he pleads with God against Israel ? 3 "Lord , THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS , THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS , AND I ALONE AM LEFT , AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE ." 4 But what is the divine response to him? " I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL ." 5 In the same way then , there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice . 6 But if it is by grace , it is no longer on the basis of works , otherwise grace is no longer grace . 7 What then ? What Israel is seeking , it has not obtained , but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened ; 8 just as it is written , " GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR , EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY ." 9 And David says , " LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP , AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 10 " LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER e ."
11 I say then , they did not stumble so as to fall , did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles , to make them jealous . 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles , how much more will their fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles . Inasmuch e then as I am an apostle of Gentiles , I magnify my ministry , 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world , what will their acceptance be but life from the dead ? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy , the lump is also ; and if the root is holy , the branches are too . 17 But if some of the branches were broken off , and you, being a wild olive , were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree , 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches ; but if you are arrogant , remember that it is not you who supports the root , but the root supports you. 19 You will say then , "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 Quite right , they were broken off for their unbelief , but you stand by your faith . Do not be conceited e , but fear ; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches , He will not spare you, either . 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God ; to those who fell , severity , but to you, God's kindness , if you continue in His kindness ; otherwise you also will be cut off . 23 And they also , if they do not continue in their unbelief , will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again . 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree , and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree , how much more will these who are the natural e branches be grafted into their own olive tree ?
25 For I do not want you, brethren , to be uninformed of this mystery -so e that you will not be wise in your own estimation -that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved ; just as it is written , " THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION , HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB ." 27 " THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS ." 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake , but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers ; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable . 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God , but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience , 31 so these also now have been disobedient , that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Romans 11:1-31
Commentary on Romans 11:1-10
(Read Romans 11:1-10)
There was a chosen remnant of believing Jews, who had righteousness and life by faith in Jesus Christ. These were kept according to the election of grace. If then this election was of grace, it could not be of works, either performed or foreseen. Every truly good disposition in a fallen creature must be the effect, therefore it cannot be the cause, of the grace of God bestowed on him. Salvation from the first to the last must be either of grace or of debt. These things are so directly contrary to each other that they cannot be blended together. God glorifies his grace by changing the hearts and tempers of the rebellious. How then should they wonder and praise him! The Jewish nation were as in a deep sleep, without knowledge of their danger, or concern about it; having no sense of their need of the Saviour, or of their being upon the borders of eternal ruin. David, having by the Spirit foretold the sufferings of Christ from his own people, the Jews, foretells the dreadful judgments of God upon them for it, Psalm 69. This teaches us how to understand other prayers of David against his enemies; they are prophecies of the judgments of God, not expressions of his own anger. Divine curses will work long; and we have our eyes darkened, if we are bowed down in worldly-mindedness.
Commentary on Romans 11:11-21
(Read Romans 11:11-21)
The gospel is the greatest riches of every place where it is. As therefore the righteous rejection of the unbelieving Jews, was the occasion of so large a multitude of the Gentiles being reconciled to God, and at peace with him; the future receiving of the Jews into the church would be such a change, as would resemble a general resurrection of the dead in sin to a life of righteousness. Abraham was as the root of the church. The Jews continued branches of this tree till, as a nation, they rejected the Messiah; after that, their relation to Abraham and to God was, as it were, cut off. The Gentiles were grafted into this tree in their room; being admitted into the church of God. Multitudes were made heirs of Abraham's faith, holiness and blessedness. It is the natural state of every one of us, to be wild by nature. Conversion is as the grafting in of wild branches into the good olive. The wild olive was often ingrafted into the fruitful one when it began to decay, and this not only brought forth fruit, but caused the decaying olive to revive and flourish. The Gentiles, of free grace, had been grafted in to share advantages. They ought therefore to beware of self-confidence, and every kind of pride or ambition; lest, having only a dead faith, and an empty profession, they should turn from God, and forfeit their privileges. If we stand at all, it is by faith; we are guilty and helpless in ourselves, and are to be humble, watchful, afraid of self-deception, or of being overcome by temptation. Not only are we at first justified by faith, but kept to the end in that justified state by faith only; yet, by a faith which is not alone, but which worketh by love to God and man.
Commentary on Romans 11:22-32
(Read Romans 11:22-32)
Of all judgments, spiritual judgments are the sorest; of these the apostle is here speaking. The restoration of the Jews is, in the course of things, far less improbable than the call of the Gentiles to be the children of Abraham; and though others now possess these privileges, it will not hinder their being admitted again. By rejecting the gospel, and by their indignation at its being preached to the Gentiles, the Jews were become enemies to God; yet they are still to be favoured for the sake of their pious fathers. Though at present they are enemies to the gospel, for their hatred to the Gentiles; yet, when God's time is come, that will no longer exist, and God's love to their fathers will be remembered. True grace seeks not to confine God's favour. Those who find mercy themselves, should endeavour that through their mercy others also may obtain mercy. Not that the Jews will be restored to have their priesthood, and temple, and ceremonies again; an end is put to all these; but they are to be brought to believe in Christ, the true become one sheep-fold with the Gentiles, under Christ the Great Shepherd. The captivities of Israel, their dispersion, and their being shut out from the church, are emblems of the believer's corrections for doing wrong; and the continued care of the Lord towards that people, and the final mercy and blessed restoration intended for them, show the patience and love of God.